speculate
SPEHK-yuu-layt
Speculate (verb) means to guess or form a theory about something without having solid proof. Example: “Reporters speculated about the reasons behind the sudden resignation.”
verb
1
To guess or form a theory about something without having solid proof.
"Reporters speculated about the reasons behind the sudden resignation."
"It's pointless to speculate until we have the test results."
2
To buy or trade something risky, hoping to sell later at a profit.
"He lost his savings speculating on volatile tech stocks."
How to use speculate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo guess based on limited facts, or to take a financial risk hoping for a big payoff.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "spectate" (to watch an event) — they look similar but are unrelated in meaning.
Easily confused with
spectate
Common pairings
speculate about
speculate on the stock market
speculate wildly
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- speculates
- Past tense
- speculated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Reporters _____ about the reasons behind the sudden resignation.
Etymology
From Latin speculārī ("to watch, observe, spy"), from specula ("a watchtower") — originally about "keeping watch," it drifted toward "forming a theory" and later "taking a financial gamble."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for speculate
See all rhymes for speculate →Frequently asked questions
What does “speculate” mean?
The word “speculate” means to guess or form a theory about something without having solid proof. In plain terms, to guess based on limited facts, or to take a financial risk hoping for a big payoff.
How do you pronounce “speculate”?
“Speculate” is pronounced SPEHK-yuu-layt (/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “speculate” in a sentence?
Here is “speculate” used in a sentence: “Reporters speculated about the reasons behind the sudden resignation.”
What part of speech is “speculate”?
“Speculate” is a verb.
Where does the word “speculate” come from?
The word “speculate” comes from Latin. From Latin speculārī ("to watch, observe, spy"), from specula ("a watchtower") — originally about "keeping watch," it drifted toward "forming a theory" and later "taking a financial gamble.".
Is “speculate” a common word?
“Speculate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “speculate” have?
“Speculate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to guess or form a theory about something without having solid proof.
